Ventilating and air conditioning apparatus



Dec. 9, 1952 I 5. E. OWENS 2 VENTILATING AND AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed April 5, 1950 Patented Dec. 9, 1952 v OFFICE VENTILATING AND AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS George Erwin Owens, Independence, Mo.

Application April 3, 1950, Serial No. 153,721

7 7 Claims. (Cl. 9894) The present invention relates in general to the ventilation and air conditioning of rooms and buildings, and it deals more particularly with a self-contained ventilating and air conditioning unit adapted for window mounting.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a unit of the character indicated which can readily be mounted outside a building in association with a, window thereof; which is nowise subject to injury from exposure to the sun, inclement weather, etc.; and, which when installed, adds to rather than detracts from the over-all ornamental appearance of the building.

Another object is to provide a compact ventilating and air conditioning unit which is economical to manufacture, easy to install, simple and. efi'icient in operation and capable of giving long and. useful service with little or no maintenance.

A further object is to provide a ventilating and air conditioning unit whose housing simulates an awning, and in fact, serves as an awning to the extent that it shadesand shelters the window over which it is mounted.

Still another object is-to, provide in connection with an awning type housing, concealed mechanism for producing a positive flow of air from outside the building through the housin and into the building through an open window behind the housing, the air being cleaned, cooled and humidifled as it passes through the housing.

According to my invention, I employ a water circulating, evaporative air cooler and humidifier, an important feature residing in the particular construction, disposition and operation of the working parts of the system in a housing of the character indicated. A further feature resides in the novel type of water recirculating system embodied in the unit.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear in the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals are employed to identify like parts of the various views:

Fig. 1 is a, front perspective view of one form of my awning type room ventilating and air conditioning unit, parts having been broken away for purposes of illustration,

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section taken along line 22 of Fig. l in the direction of the arrows,

and

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section similar to Fig. 2

, 2 showing a modified form of unit embodying the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I0 designates generally a sheet metal housing shaped like an awning and adapted to be mounted over the upper portion of a double hun window ll containing an upper sash l2 and a lower sash Ma. The housing has vertical side panels I3 and a sloping front panel I4 terminating at the bottom in a vertical valance Hi. The awning canopy thus formed may be mounted against the outside of the window frame in any suitable fashion, for example, by means of integral flanges 16 secured to the. frame by screws Ilia.

Within the lower portion of the canopy and forming the bottom of housing I0 is a shallow, open top tank or tray ll. This has a flat bottom l8 which is rectangular in outline with a large circular opening [9 centrally located therein; around the opening is an upstanding annular lip or rim 20, while around the outer margin of the bottom [8 is an upstanding outer wall 2| which may be welded or otherwise secured to the side panels I3 and valance [4 of the awnin canopy. The three sides of the tank secured to these members are provided with an inturned flange 22 for rigidity, but the-flange is omitted from the rear wall (see Fig. 2). As shown in the drawings, the tank is disposed well above the lowermost edges of the canopy, hence is inconspicuous from the vantage point of a casual observer outside the building on which the awning is mounted.

Water is supplied to the tank through a pipe or hose connection 23, and is automatically maintained at a predetermined level therein by a float controlled valve 24.

Spanning the tank from front to rear is an upwardly arched channel frame 25, the ends of which are welded or otherwise secured to the outer tank walls 2 I. This frame supports a motor 28 located centrally over opening l9, the motor having a downwardly extending vertical shaft with a fan blade 39 mounted thereon. The radial length of the blade is such that its tips travel in an are just within the circle defined by the annular rim 20, and it will be seen therefore, that this rim forms a short vertical. air duct for the fan.

Mounted on the motor shaft above the fan and rotating therewith is an arm 32 having its ends curved downwardly beyond the annular rim 20;

- its tips, bent outwardly and canted or pitched slightly, form scoops 33 that just break the surface of the water in the tank. As the motor 3 turns the fan to draw air upwardly into the awning housing through opening IS, the scoops lift a fine spray of water from the tank and projects same into the air stream.

Within the housing above the fan assembly is a downwardly and rearwardly inclined filter screen comprising a mat 35 of corrosion resistant metal wool or mineral and/ or vegetable fibers retained. in asuitabl'eframe 36. The upper edge of the filter rests against an angle member 33 welded on the underside of the sloping top panel 54 while the lower edge rests org channel member and is held against rearward movement by the outer rear wall 2 I.

It will be obvious that the filter maybe other wise supported in the position illustrated, but

the arrangement described is preferred for its simplicity and also because it makes possible the convenient removal of the filter; thus, when it is desired to clean or replace the filter, or when it is necessary to service the motor or valve, it is only necessary to swingthe upper edge of the filter rearwardly, then lift the low'er edge over the wall of the tank and remove the v filter through the open window b'ehind'the awning.

When my unit is in operation; the upper sash 12 of the window is, ofcourse; loweredas shown i Fi th w-happen r a id ii eh u ing is in direct communication with the room to be ventilated and cooled. drawsair upwardiy into the housing through the central aperture !9; m oving itthrou'gh the filter and through the open windowinto the room. Dust or other solid foreign matter in the air is caught by the filter so the air discharged into the room is Very clean. o As previously indicated, thescoops 33 rotate it he n. i ng? may i wa er i fiha stream. The larger globules of water are blocked by th .fi fi l i 35 wh h. s o b es e as its saturation increases the eigces's moisture trickles wa d throu h; th are. etu n n to the tank and establishinga cyclic recirculation of the water. The airpassing through the filter causes evaporation offsome ofthe moisture contained therein, which moisture is; of course, taken up by t he air stream and; carried into the room; not only does thi-sehumidify the air, but also due to the heat absorbed in the process of evaporation; it causes a reduction in the temperature of the air supplied to the interior of the building. Thernoisture carried away from the tank is replenishedautomatically through the supply line '23; valve 2 4;ser'vin'g tomaintain the water level in the tank substantially constant.

In the modification shown inFig. 3,'the housing is substantially identical to the one already described. and the parts thereof accordingly have been designated by like reference numerals.

In this unit; however, the fan 30" is carried ona vertical jackshaft which in turn is supported in suitable bearingsmounted onthe frame member 40; a motor 42 mounted rearwardly of the jack shaft on the same frame member drives the fan through the medium of a belt 4'4 and pulleys 45and46. k e W I An upright filter 48' extends across the rear of the housing from one side thereof to the other and is supported along its lateral edges by a vertical anglem'ember 4S- abuttingone face of the filter and ears 50 bent inwardly at intervals along the opposite face. Over thefilt'er is a trough 52 extending along the upper edge of the filter and having a row of perforation-s its bottom.

Water is supplied to this trough through a hose The I rotating fan games 53, the lower end of which is connected to the discharge side of the small pum 54 driven by the motor shaft 55. As shown, the pump preferably is submerged in the water contained in the tank. The water may be maintained at a predetermined level in the tank by a float controlled supply arrangement similar to that described .in connection withEigs. 1 andZ; alternatively, the tank can he filled manually at intervals, as needed, an outwardly projecting lip 56 being provided on the rear wall to facilitate pouring water into the unit.

The mode of operation of the modified device is basically like that already described. That is to say, air is. drawn upwardly through the central opening 'in the tank and discharged through the filter-48andthe open window into the interior of the building. At the same time, the motor driven pump 54 pumps water from the tank through hose 53 into the perforated trough 52 from which it'flows; by gravity through the filter and back into th tank, The airpassing through the filter thus is ]c1eaned, cooled y evaporation of the moisture it ontacts, and humidified as eirplainedherei-nbefore Thus it w n beseeri-r provided aslfcontained type' orunit forventilating and air conditioning roomor buildings, which unit isboth effective mo eiation and ornamental inappearance, complementingthe natural architeotui'al lines or the structure-and fthrfo'r' wen adapted to residential use as wen asfor since an'd-fa ctory ventilation.- The device is-relativly economical to manufacture, and; being nee-tr complicatedmechanisms, is capable of giving long and tr'ouble f'r'e e service with a minimum of maintenance. All wiorking p'arts are well-sheltered from the weather and th'ehousing shades the window from the direct rays of the to enhance the over-all cooling effect produced upon the interior of the room served by the unit.

From the-foregoing it willbe appreciated thatthis invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hreinbefore set forth, together with other advantages which areobvi- 011s and which are inherent tothe apparatus.

It will be understoodthat certain features and sub-combinations are of utility andm'ay be em:- ployed without reference to 1. other features and sub-combinations. This is. contemplated by and is Within the scope of the claims.

Inasmuch as many-possible embodiments. of the invention may be inadewithout departing.- from th'e'scopethereof; it is to be understood that all matter herein set fo'rth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative andnotin a limiting sen-se.-

Having thus describedmy inventien', I claim-k 1. In combination with a window. opening having a frame, a rigid awning campy comprising an outwardly anduownwardly inclined hi1 perforate roof panel and a pair of laterally spaced imperforate side panels, means supporting the' awning canopy-with the rear edges of said panels engaging. the, window framealong the top and two sides or the window. opening, a water storage trough within the-lower portion of the awning canopy having artinner wall forming an air intake uct centranydispdsed in the bottom opening of the canopy and-'the'bo'tto'm of the trough eXtending out'vi'iardIyfrom said wall and 'closing the balance of thebot'torn opening of the canopy, air moving-means within the ca o QPe tive. is r a r i t t e. Q nb' through said duct and discharge it through said a window opening, a fibrous filter in the canopy extending across the path of the air stream, and means for continuously-transferring water from said trough to said filter'to maintain same in moistened condition. I

2. In combination with a window opening having a-frame, a rigid awning canopy comprising an outwardly and downwardly inclined imperforate roof panel and a pair of laterally spaced imperforate side panels, means supporting, the awning canopy with the rear .edges of said panels engaging the window frame along the top and two sides of the window opening, a water storage trough within the lower portionof the awning canopy and having an inner wall forming an air intake duct centrally disposed in the bottom opening of the canopy and the bottom of the trough extending outwardly from said wall and closing the balance of the bottom opening of the canopy, a filter screen within the canopy spanning same from side to side with its lower edge disposed over the portion of said trough which is toward the window and its upper edge adjacent said sloping roof panel, air moving means within the canopy operative to draw air into the canopy through said duct and advance it through said filter and discharge it through said window opening, and means for continuously lifting water from said trough onto said filter screen to maintain same in moistened condition, the excess moisture in said screen being effective to drain down the screen and back into said trough for recirculation by said last means.

3. In combination with a window opening having a frame, a rigid awning canopy comprising an outwardly and downwardly inclined imperforate roof panel and a pair of laterally spaced imperforate side panels, means supporting the awning canopy with the rear edges of said panels engaging the window frame along the top and two sides of the window opening, water storage trough within the lower portion of the awning canopy and having an inner wall forming an air intake duct centrally disposed in the bottom opening of the canopy and the bottom of the trough extending outwardly from said wall and closing the balance of the bottom opening of the canopy, air moving means within the canopy operative to draw air into the canopy through said duct and discharge it through said window opening, a water scoop in said trough, means supporting said scoop for movement in a circular orbit along the trough, and means for driving said scoop in said orbit thereby to lift a spray of water from the trough into said air stream. D

4. In combination with a window opening having a frame, a rigid awning canopy comprising an outwardly and downwardly inclined imperforate roof panel and a pair of laterally spaced imperforate side panels, means supporting the awning canopy with the rear edges of said panels engaging the window frame along the top and two sides of the window opening, a water storage trough within the lower portion of the awning canopy and having an inner wall forming an air intake duct centrally disposed in the bottom opening of the canopy and the bottom of the trough extending outwardly from said wall and closing the balance of the bottom opening of the canopy, air moving means within the canopy operative to draw air into the canopy through said duct and discharge it through said window opening, a water scoop in said trough, means supporting said scoop for movement in a circular orbit along the trough. means for driving said 'scoopgin said orbit thereby to lift a spray of water from thetrough into said air stream, anda filter screen within the awning canopy spanningtsame from side to 'side' and having its'lower edgeover the portionjof said trough which "is'toward the window, said screen inclined forwardly and upwardly with its upper edge adjacent the mid-section of the roof panel. 5. In combination with a window opening having a frame, a rigid awning canopy comprising an outwardly and downwardly inclined imperforate roof panel anda pair of laterally spaced imperforate side panels, means supporting the awning canopy with the rear edges of said panels engaging the window frame along the top and two sides of the window opening, a water storage trough within the lower portion of the awning canopy and having an inner wall forming an intake duct centrally disposed in the bottom opening of the canopy and the bottom of the trough extending outwardly from said wall and closing the balance of the bottom opening of the canopy, an upright shaft, means rotatably supporting said shaft with its axis centrally disposed relative to said duct, a fan in said duct secured to said shaft, a prime mover connected to the shaft for turning the fan thereby to draw air into the canopy through said duct and discharge it through said window opening, a fibrous filter in the canopy extending across the path of the air stream, and means for continuously transferring water from said trough to said filter to maintain same in moistened condition.

6. In combination with a window opening having a frame, a rigid awning canopy comprising an outwardly and downwardly inclined imperforate roof panel and a pair of laterally spaced imperforate side panels, means supporting the awning canopy with the rear edges of said panels engaging the window frame along the top and two sides of the window opening, a water storage trough within the lower portion of the awning canopy and having an inner wall forming an air intake duct centrally disposed in the bottom opening of the canopy and the bottom of the trough extending outwardly from said wall enclosing the balance of the bottom opening of the canopy, an upright shaft, means rotatably supporting said shaft with its axis centrally disposed relative to said duct, a fan in said duct secured to said shaft, a prime mover connected to the shaft for turning the fan thereby to draw air into the canopy through said duct and discharge it through said window opening, a water scoop in said trough, and means connecting said scoop to said fan to travel therewith thereby to let water from the trough into the air stream.

'7. In combination with a window opening having a frame, a rigid awning canopy comprising an outwardly and downwardly inclined imperforate roof panel and a pair of laterally spaced imperforate side panels, means supporting the awning canopy with the rear edges of said panels engaging the window frame along the top and two sides of the window opening, a water storage trough within the lower portion of the awning canopy and having an inner wall forming an air intake duct centrally disposed in the bottom opening of the canopy and the bottom of the trough extending outwardly from said wall and closing the balance of the bottom opening of the canopy, an upright shaft, means rotatably supporting said shaft with its axis centrally disposed relative to said duct, a fan in said duct secured to said shaft, a prime mover connected to the shaft for taming the fan thereby to draw air into the canopy through said duct aid discharge it through said window o ening, a water scoop in said trough, means cofifie'ctihg said scoop to said fan to travel therewith thereby to jet water from the trough into the air stream, aha a .filtr screen within the awning canola? spanning same from side to side and having its lower edge over the rear portion of said trough, said screen inclined, forwardly and iijiwardly with its upper edge adjacent the mid- Section or the roe? fianl.

GEORGE ERWIN OWENS.

REFERENCES CITED 7 V The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number 35,980

Name, x N Qate H z'ellweger July 30, 1901 Fandrey June 30; 1925 Planert June? 1931 Amos Sept. 29, 1936 Grab June 15, 1937 Church et a1. Nov. 22, 1938 Myers Apr. 16, 1940 Chase June 24, 1941 Carr Feb. 16, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country 7 Date Germany Jan. 25, 1909 

